I did a search for you (did Grade 9 via computer, so I'm fairly good at computer stuff that has nothing to do with school ;-) Anyway, UofSK offers the program, it looks like most of it can be done from home, but you'd likely have to make the drive for the workshops. Fortunately there isn't a time limit on completing the course so you could technically make a trip a year or something for those.

Ontario also does a Master Gardener program, but it looks like it's only open to Ontario Residents
Alberta also has one, but it requires coming to lectures, etc, and doesn't look like it can be completed from a distance.

Hope this helps!
Verena

Here is a link that might be useful: U of Sask Master Gardeners Program

As Verena says, the one that I did, through the Devonian Botanic Garden, U of Alberta Extension, is an on-site program.

Contact the U 0f S, NSAC and some of the ones that you found in the states (preferably the northern states) and plead your case. It looks like you would have to travel 5 or 6 times to Saskatoon to do it there. But they have the home portion, which is great. Maybe they could somehow teleconference the other lectures. It's worth asking. NSAC may be able to the same. What is the time limit on NSAC? If it is only the one trip to N.S., that sounds like a better option, if you can do it at some later time when you are going home. (Big trip and I know you just were there last year)

The other option is to take as much as you can, learn what you can and don't get your diploma. The MG programs generally have a volunteer portion (in my case, it was 80 hours). I couldn't commit to this and the large project on identification so I took all of the courses, wrote the exams (doing very well on most of it) and did not complete the total requirements to get my diploma. But, what I missed there, I gain everyday and more through all of you. So for me, it wasn't important to have the course totally finished. Depends whether you want to do anything with it or take it for general interest. Mine was the latter. Also, many greenhouses would recognize that you have the interest and knowledge. They don't need you to have the diploma to hire you. But, there may be some that want it.

Let us know what you discover and good luck. I would think that there should be someone out there to accommodate you. If you have no success, I can contact The DBG on your behalf and see if they know of any options.

Shauna

I know that this isn't a Canadian site, but the Cooperative extension at Fairbanks in Alaska offers a correspondance program. I'd imagine climates are pretty similar in Manitoba and Fairbanks:

Emily in cloudy Fairbanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Correspondance MG program in AK

verenap: Thanks for that link to the u 0f S...I found a link for the distance program there but the link to the page took me to Assiniboine College in Brandon...and there wasn't much info there. The link you gave was much better!

Shauna: I think thats what I just might have to do...the other downside to the NSAC program is that it is geared to Coastal zone 5 gardening from what I read....not much help to me here!

emily_ak: I did get that link in my search but wanted to concentrate on places in my general area...but I bet the AK weather might even be warmer then where I am. North/Central tends to get much colder then Northern/Coastal but it can't hurt to get the info anyway!